NEED A REASON TO EXCERSISE?

IMPROVED QUALITY OF LIFE

1. Perform Activities of Daily Living more easily -- burn a few extra calories by walking the stairs or mowing the grass.

2. Heighten sexuality -- feeling more confidence, healthier, stronger and more attractive are definite aphrodisiacs.

3. Create recreational opportunities -- open the door to many of your favorite pastimes.

IMPROVED BODY COMPOSITION

4. Decrease body fat -- losing fat is healthier in so many ways that it is at the heart of many of the other entries on this list.

5. Burn more calories in your sleep -- muscle burns 30-50 percent more calories than the same amount of fat.

6. Look better -- increasing muscle size helps you "tone up".

7. Increase energy

DECREASED RISK OF DISEASE

8. Osteoporosis -- exercise slows bone mineral loss, improves posture, and reduces the risk of falling.

9. Risk for cancers is reduced -- particularly cancers of the uterus, breast, prostate, and colon.

10. Reduce risk of developing heart disease --this is the leading cause of death in the US, and people who are inactive double their risk of developing coronary heart disease.

11. Diabetes -- eighty percent of people who develop Type 2 diabetes are overweight.

12. Early mortality -- according to data from the Cooper Institute for Aerobics Research, fit men and women with 2-3 CVD risk factors have LOWER death rates than unfit men (15% lower) and women (50% lower) with no risk factors.

IMPROVED OVERALL FITNESS

13. Increase strength

14. Improve flexibility -- a true use it or lose it phenomena; you know how stiff you get after sitting in a car on a long drive, imagine what a lifetime of inactivity can do to you!

15. Build cardiovascular fitness -- improves endurance and makes the heart healthier.

16. Improve balance -- protects you from falls and gives you a sense of confidence in your movements that can mean the difference between independence and assisted living as you age.

IMPROVED PSYCHOLOGICAL HEALTH

17. Improve mood -- even short bouts of exercise have been shown to elevate mood state; change your outlook and change the outcome of your entire day.

18. Decrease stress -- many forms of movement from vigorous sports to yoga are proven, natural stress relievers.

19. Increase self-efficacy -- confidence, not only in exercise, but in all aspects of life is improved by being physically active, strong, and capable.

20. Increase self-esteem -- pride in yourself and your accomplishments underlies all that you achieve through exercise!